Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,547.00
Summary
Chemical and structural design for high power energy storage materials. This project aims to develop new materials with both high power and high energy storage capabilities by exploring emerging relaxor antiferroelectric (RAFE) materials. Through investigating the internal chemical and structural factors, and their interactions at different length scales, this project will first solve the current ambiguities in RAFEs and then identify critical factors for properties to better design and develop ....Chemical and structural design for high power energy storage materials. This project aims to develop new materials with both high power and high energy storage capabilities by exploring emerging relaxor antiferroelectric (RAFE) materials. Through investigating the internal chemical and structural factors, and their interactions at different length scales, this project will first solve the current ambiguities in RAFEs and then identify critical factors for properties to better design and develop new high-performance energy storage materials. The outcomes of this project will advance the knowledge of ferroic materials, provide new candidates for advanced electrical systems such as renewable energy, electric vehicles and pulsed power devices, and potentially revolutionise high power energy storage technologies.Read moreRead less
Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engin ....Smart materials for atmospheric water management and water harvesting. Fresh water is a scarce resource in many parts of the globe but uncomfortably over-supplied in other regions. Dehumidifying machines, such as air conditioners, are extensively used in humid climates to enhance human comfort, but with great energy costs. Likewise, the production of potable water in remote dry regions is energy intensive. We propose novel hyper-absorbent desiccating polymers combined into sorption-powered engines inspired by nastic movements in plants to develop extremely efficient dehumidifiers and water harvesting machines. These polymer actuators can help address the auto-acceleration of climate change caused by the increasing use of air conditioners and provide cheap, clean water for remote communities.Read moreRead less